First Read-Through

I’ve reached the stage in my writing of book two where it’s time to step away from the trees and look at the forest. It’s time for the first read-through.

Writers love words. And when writing anything, it is easy and tempting to get caught up in the detail, the imagery, in the way a moment is expressed. Those things are, after all, critical in keeping storytelling quality high.

But the large brush strokes are also important. How is the pace? Do the larger arcs of character growth, motivation and action add up? Is the story put together in a way that keeps the reader turning pages, reluctant to turn out the light, or does it have stretches of snooze-promoting stuff?

I am not a “plotter.” In writer’s lingo, I’m a “pantser” (short for “seat-of-the-pants.”) I don’t sketch out the large basics before I begin a book. Actually, I tend to go back and forth in my mind between detail and large strokes. And the large strokes often present themselves as a surprise. “Oh! So that’s why that character did that thing! Now I see where the story is going!” It’s probably not the most efficient of ways to write, but it is the way that delights me most.

As I said in the opening line, I’ve arrived at the point where I step away from the trees to look at the forest. I finished the first draft. For purposes of this article, I’ll say that means I’ve written “End of Book Two” at the bottom of the manuscript, and I’m not aware of gaping holes.

Next step? My first read-through.

I get the entire thing printed out on paper. Don’t ask me why it works this way, but it does—I see my writing much more clearly on paper. Being able to turn pages, mark it up, and so forth, seems to help me see errors, omissions, and unnecessary fill. It’s also important for me to do the reading in as consolidated a time period as possible. That helps me get my head around the whole story.

Because writing a book is a lengthy undertaking, I believe it’s important to celebrate the small accomplishments. So I’ll be raising my cup of tea and toasting the view of the forest, whatever it reveals!

You can hear more about my writing process and that of two other popular authors, Lish McBride and Lisa Mantchev, on Friday July 24, 3pm at the Port Angeles Main Library, in the Raymond Carver Room. It’s part of the Clallam County Comic Con event. Come if you can!